SHORTSLEEVE: Repeal MBTA Communities Act
BOSTON, MA – Today in anticipation of the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government hearing on the MBTA Communities Act, Marine Corps Veteran, successful business leader, and proven government reformer Brian Shortsleeve, Republican candidate for governor, once again announced his support for repealing the flawed law while also supporting legislation filed by Senator Kelly Dooner and Representative Ken Sweezey.
“Beacon Hill should not be forcing a one-size-fits-all approach on municipalities to try to help solve our state housing shortage. What is good for Taunton is not necessarily what is good for Middleboro. Communities should have the freedom to make their own decisions. The State House should be incentivizing housing development not punishing communities by withholding funds. Unlike Maura Healey and my GOP opponent, as governor, I will work to repeal the MBTA Communities Act,” said Shortsleeve.
The Municipalities and Regional Government Committee is holding a hearing tomorrow in Gardner Auditorium on numerous bills filed to ease the restrictions. Senator Dooner has filed S.1437, S.1438, S.1439 and S.1440 which provide exemptions from the law, an ease of deadlines, and access to funding. Rep. Sweezey has filed H.2338, H.2339 andH.2340 which offer reductions in punishments, extensions on deadlines, and community exemptions.
Due to the lack of flexibility in the law and the administration, communities such as Hanson, Marshfield, Middleboro, Wrentham, and Duxbury have had to sue claiming it is an unfunded mandate. Marshfield has had $261,000 withheld by the Healey administration for dredging. Middleboro had a $73,000 mental health grant rescinded.
“I hope the legislature will take immediate action on the Dooner and Sweezey bills,” said Shortsleeve. “We can solve the problem of housing, but forcing this law on community after community is wrong. We need a commonsense approach that encourages municipalities, not a stick.”
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